How to find the right USDA mortgage lender

A USDA home loan comes with many perks, including no down payment required and competitive interest rates. But finding the right USDA lender and sometimes be a challenge.

Learn more about this topic by reading my first article for new client USDALoans.com, available here.

More single women are purchasing homes – Here's why

As that beloved song by Aretha Franklin and the Eurythmics from 40 years ago reminds us, sisters are doin’ it for themselves – and in increasing numbers when it comes to homebuying, fresh data suggest.

Indeed, a greater portion of single women are buying residences nowadays than years ago. Considering that women continue to make less than men, on average, that’s an impressive feat, although buying as a solo female has its risks and challenges.

Take a closer look at what the latest numbers show and what factors the experts attribute to this trend by reading my latest article for The Mortgage Reports, available here.

Cineversary podcast honors 100th birthday of Chaplin's The Gold Rush

Jeffrey Vance

In Cineversary podcast episode #81, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ goes prospecting for comedic gold by revisiting Charles Chaplin’s The Gold Rush on its 100th anniversary. Accompanying him on this expedition is Jeffrey Vance, a film historian, film archivist, and author of the book Chaplin: Genius Of The Cinema. Together, they mine the priceless merits of the Little Tramp’s hilarious and impressive adventure, examining how it has stood the test of time, what makes the laughs evergreen, and how scores of imitators have been influenced by this masterwork.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Thinking about buying a second home? Consider using a HELOC

Dreaming of purchasing a second home for a family getaway or rental? There are several financing options available to help you. One of the most flexible is a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which allows you to tap into your equity. 

Using a HELOC to buy a second home can make a lot of sense for homeowners who have built significant equity in their primary residence. But that raises some important questions: How much can you borrow using a HELOC to buy another house? What are the benefits and drawbacks of applying HELOC funds to a second home purchase? What steps should you take to apply for a home equity line of credit? And what other financing options, like a home equity loan or cash-out refinance, should you consider? For answers, read my first article for new client Better.com, available here.

Shed of the class

Own a backyard shed, deck box, hose cart, snow shovel, or garage cabinet? Chances are it’s made by Suncast, a Batavia, Illinois-based company that has revolutionized the outdoor storage and home and garden space since its founding in 1984.

For 40 years, Suncast’s secret weapon has been high-density resin, a synthetic compound in granular form that’s lighter, more durable, and easier to maintain than wood or metal. It arrives via rail cars and is stored in the company’s 20 silos (each of which holds 200,000 lbs. of pellets), then is pumped as needed through pipes to specialized state-of-the-art machines. These powerful transformers heat the resin into liquified form, then mold it into a finished piece—such as a roof panel or wall section for an outdoor shed. Proprietary resin casting techniques also enable Suncast to fashion attractive textures, patterns, and hues, mimicking the look and aesthetics of more costly materials.

Learn more about Suncast and the secret behind its success by reading my latest article, which happens to be the cover story for the April issue of The Costco Connection, available here.

Why do car insurance rates keep climbing?

Car insurance rates continue to climb as inflation, changing driver habits, labor shortages and issues with the supply chain all influence premiums. A report by S&P Global found that the 10 largest insurers in the nation hiked their premiums by nearly 9% year over year in 2023. It is predicted that car insurance rates will continue to rise.

A rate increase can be an unwelcome surprise, particularly if you are already struggling to cover the cost of your car insurance. Learn why car insurance costs are increasing, what you can do to prepare for a rate increase and how to keep your car insurance affordable by reading my newest story for Carinsurance.com, available here.

For those tough cleaning jobs, make it a pressure washer

A garden hose just won’t cut it for most outdoor jobs. When you want cleaning on steroids, you’ll need a pressure washer: a powerhouse appliance that uses pressurized water to remove dirt, grime, grease, stains, mold, paint, and other unwanted elements from surfaces. Connected to your outdoor spigot, this handy device uses a motor-driven pump to create a flow with high-pressure resistance. You control the water jet via a trigger on a spray gun; change the pressure and spray pattern by swapping out the nozzle on the end of the wand.

Learn how to choose the right pressure washer for your needs by reading my newest article on this topic, published by The Costco Connection magazine, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 50th anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

In Cineversary podcast episode #80, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ lifts a golden chalice to toast the golden anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. Joining him on this quest is Darl Larsen, a film and animation professor at Brigham Young University and author of A Book About the Film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Together, they collect several nice and inexpensive shrubberies, decipher obscure Swedish subtitles, and try to convince listeners that they’re not quite dead as they explore why this film still matters 50 years later.

Darl Larsen

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

What happened to the metaverse?

Neil Stephenson introduced the metaverse as a concept in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, where he depicted it as a digital realm where users, represented by avatars, engage in a simulated reality. Fast-forward more than 30 years, and the concept is often associated with platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, Meta’s Horizon Worlds, and the Sandbox. However, these typically represent individual, proprietary experiences rather than the unified virtual world that was originally envisioned.

The metaverse and its related technology have surely evolved, but why has it not quite lived up to the hope many had placed in it? This is the topic I explore in my latest article for Destination CRM, available here.

Why affordable housing is important

With inflation taking its toll over the past few years, everybody is yearning to pay less for anything nowadays – from groceries and gas to tuition and health care. The same can be said of real estate, especially considering that the median home price is approximately $416,700, per the National Association of Realtors.

Where can affordable housing be found? And how is “affordable housing” defined? For answers, read my newest article for The Post and Courier, available here.

What happens if Trump privatizes Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs, that support the mortgage market by buying loans from mortgage lenders, bundling them into mortgage-backed securities and selling them to investors. This increases the availability and affordability of mortgages and standardizes industry guidelines. But the Trump administration wants to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could radically change the mortgage experience for consumers.

Check out my latest article for US News & World Report, in which I explore this hot button real estate and political topic.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 65th anniversary of Fellini's La Dolce Vita

Antonio Monda

In Cineversary podcast episode #79, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ marks the 65th anniversary of one of the crown jewels of world cinema, La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini. Accompanying him this month is filmmaker and Fellini scholar Antonio Monda, associate professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Together, they explore how the movie broke new ground, why it’s still relevant, its multiple themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

The best ways to tap your home equity for a remodeling project

Thanks to strong home appreciation, Americans have accumulated $35 trillion in home equity, which can fund renovations and improvements that boost their home's appeal and resale value. There are several popular ways to liquidate home equity, including a home equity loan, home equity line of credit, cash-out refinance and FHA 203(k) rehab loan. Homeowners should consider each home improvement loan's pros and cons and determine which option will best meet their needs. 

Take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of using home equity to improve your property by reading my newest article for US News & World Report, available here.

High-tech texting: RCS business messaging can revolutionize your company-to-customer experience

Savvy marketers and smart organizations know that one of the keys to growing business and increasing sales is to stay many steps ahead of not only the competition but also the latest technology trends. When it comes to electronic interactions with clientele, that means offering desirable products/services and robust customer support across a variety of digital channels, online platforms, and smartphone apps. Traditional texting can only take you so far with these goals. But RCS – also known as Rich Communication Services – can accelerate your interactivity with customers to the next level.

Learn more about RCS and its capabilities and limitations I reading my latest article for Destination CRM, available here.

How the Trump Administration could impact the housing market

President Donald Trump's policies may impact various sectors of the economy, including real estate and the housing market. While he has provided limited specifics on some housing-related issues, his intentions are clearer on other objectives, such as the potential privatization of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the imposition of tariffs on other countries, potential changes to the Federal Reserve’s operations, and addressing undocumented immigration.

How might the housing market change under the Trump Administration? What will be the effect on home buyers and sellers? Read my latest The Mortgage Reports article, available here, for clues and predictions.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 30th birthday of Before Sunrise

Kim Krizan and Rob Stone

In Cineversary podcast episode #78, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest romance films of the last three decades, Before Sunrise, directed by Richard Linklater. Joining him in this installment is the film’s Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter Kim Krizan, author of Original Sins: Trade Secrets of the Femme Fatale; and filmmaker Rob Stone, a professor of film and television studies at the University of Birmingham in the UK and author of The Cinema of Richard Linklater: Walk, Don't Run. Together, they examine why Before Sunrise still matters, the many movies it influenced, its major themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

How to refinance your mortgage without income verification

Before the 2008 financial crisis, it was relatively easy to purchase or refinance a home without having to verify your income. Although those days are long gone and traditional no-income-verification refinance loans are a thing of the past, alternative options exist that those with unsteady earnings or financial hardship can explore. Thankfully, lenders are often willing to work with borrowers in need, as both parties want to avoid foreclosure.

Learn more in this article about why the no doc refinance is unavailable, how government-backed streamline refis may allow you to refinance without income verification, alternative refi options when you have unsteady earnings, strategies to consider when you face financial hardship, and more by reading my latest piece for Refi.com, available here.